Minister of Social, Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs Natan
Sharansky resigned from the government last week due to the
disengagement plan, saying it goes against his conscience.
Since Sharansky was not a Knesset member, the resignation was
a particularly notable move for now he essentially remains
outside of the political arena. Many say that his absence
will be hardly noticed because he has long since faded from
the political map.
When he was liberated as part of a prisoner exchange between
the East and the West, the world was breathless. In 1996 his
party, Yisrael Ba'aliya, was the big surprise of the
election, grabbing seven mandates in its first election
run.
After defeating Peres by a hair due in large part to
Sharansky's backing, Netanyahu paid handsomely, making
Sharansky Minister of Trade and Commerce, Yuli Edelstein
Minister of Immigration and Absorption, two other party
members deputy ministers and appointing others to several
important committees.
Sharansky had to overcome his first crisis during that first
term when Uri Stern and Michael Nudelman resigned to form an
independent list that later joined Avigdor Lieberman.
In the 1999 elections between Netanyahu and Barak, Sharansky
managed to retain six mandates, but there was a crucial
difference: he remained neutral. Netanyahu begged for his
backing—even on the morning of the election—but
Sharansky held out. Recognizing Sharansky's neutrality helped
him win office under Barak too, who rewarded him with a
portfolio, the Interior Ministry, after taking it away from
Shas.
Sharansky also served as Deputy Prime Minister, but that
marked the height of his career. From there it was all
downhill.
Soon after the 1999 elections Roman Bronfman and another MK
resigned from the party, leaving Yisrael Ba'aliya with just
four mandates. This move was a real blow to Sharansky and the
party since Barak then refused to give them any ministries,
meaning Yuli Edelstein had to be content with an appointment
as deputy minister. The formation of Lieberman's immigrant
party, Yisrael Beiteinu, delivered a second blow.
Sharansky's real decline began in the last elections when
Yisrael Ba'aliya received just two mandates, making it the
smallest party in the Knesset. The vote was an indication
Sharansky was nearing the end of his political career and
perhaps that there is no longer room for an immigrant party
in Israeli politics. The majority of immigrants voted either
Likud for its right-wing stances or Shinui for its anti-
religious stances, sending a message they can get along just
fine with regular Israeli parties.
Gesture to Bush
Following Yisrael Ba'aliya's big failure in the last
elections, which left a gaping hole in the party bank
account, Sharansky decided to disband the two-mandate party
and merge with the Likud. Sharon supported the move, which
brought his party to a whopping 40 mandates—exactly one-
third of the Knesset.
As part of the agreement between the two parties Sharon made
Sharansky Minister of Social, Diaspora and Jerusalem Affairs,
a virtually meaningless post despite the long, fancy name.
After his appointment Sharansky ceded his seat as MK to the
next in line on the Yisrael Ba'aliya list to maximize the
involvement of Yisrael Ba'aliya people in political affairs
based on simple math: three is more than two. Sharansky
opposed the disengagement plan every step of the way, but
unlike Lieberman, Alon and Landau, Sharon did not fire him
for several reasons.
First, since he did not have a Knesset seat Sharansky had no
opportunity to actually vote against the plan. Second, he
posed no threat. Well past his peak, Sharansky was expected
to disappear from the political scene following this term, so
why fire him because of his political beliefs? Unlike Eitam,
Lieberman, Alon and Landau, Sharansky did not threaten the
majority support for disengagement, so why not let the nice
Russian guy keep his ministerial post? Let him enjoy his
Volvo and office bureau. Gezunter heit.
Third, Sharansky has a fan by the name of George Bush, who
just so happens to be the president of the United States and
Sharon wants to stay on his good side. On several occasions
Bush has remarked that Sharansky's book is one of his
personal favorites. Firing Sharansky would not be looked upon
favorably by Sharon's friend in the White House.
Thus Sharansky kept his appointment long after other
disengagement opponents had been given the boot, but
eventually his conscience got the better of him and he handed
in his resignation, making his absence from the political
arena official.
